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Bay Area Day Hiking Trails

If you're heading up Mission, remember that the conditions at the top of the hill can be much different than those at the bottom. You shouldn't need more than a shell or thin outer layer, but it's something that novice hikers seem to forget.

If you're just looking for mellow, local trails, there are some nice ones in Redwood park, and a decent loop in Tilden/Wildcat.

With the summer heat coming on, the Peninsula and Sonoma / Mendocino coast may be your best bets for mild temps and/or shade. Mt. Tam has a ton of great trails, and there are plenty of others scattered around the hills.

If you can give us an idea of the distance and/or elevation change you're interested in, and any specifics you look for in a trail (redwoods, views, streams, coast...), I can recommend some specific places.
 
For the multi-day trips, I have a good two-person tent that I used on my motorcycle trip to Zion National Park. But, for the back country stuff, I still need a backpack and more compact sleeping bag. My current sleeping bag doesn't look like it would fit in a backpack.

REI is having a 25% off sale on sleeping bags right now.

http://www.rei.com/outlet/category/22000021?cm_mmc=Email_com_gm-_-Outlet-_-061711-_-img_shopoutlet

Can anyone recommend a decent sleeping bag and backpack?

Should I get one for cold weather and just sleep with it zipped open as necessary, or should I just plan to have multiple sleeping bags depending on the weather conditions? I'm used to just throwing stuff either in the back of my truck or on my motorcycle, so I never had to worry about weight and such.
 
It depends on how you run temp wise. I tend to be warm, and I hate sleeping overheated, so I go with a light bag and just put on some extra socks or something if it's too cold. ... I also tend to sleep in front of a wide open window in the winter, so I may not be normal.

I'm not an ultra-light-weight packer (although I was eye balling a set of titanium cookware the other day...).. but it's still nice to be as light as possible on the trail. You'll be better off with the lightest tent, sleeping pad, and bag that makes sense for the temps you'll face.

...oh, and you can always zip up your tent flaps to help hold in heat. That can be an even more effective way to control temp than extra layers and a heavier bag in mild conditions.
 
fromeast2west said:
It depends on how you run temp wise. I tend to be warm, and I hate sleeping overheated, so I go with a light bag and just put on some extra socks or something if it's too cold. ... I also tend to sleep in front of a wide open window in the winter, so I may not be normal.

I'm not an ultra-light-weight packer (although I was eye balling a set of titanium cookware the other day...).. but it's still nice to be as light as possible on the trail. You'll be better off with the lightest tent, sleeping pad, and bag that makes sense for the temps you'll face.

...oh, and you can always zip up your tent flaps to help hold in heat. That can be an even more effective way to control temp than extra layers and a heavier bag in mild conditions.
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thanks for the advice. I usually run fairly warm. My body gives off a lot of heat, but when in the woods, I'd imagine that it's better to be too hot than too cold, right? My tent is nice and toasty with the rain cover on. Without the rain cover, it's practically just a mosquito net, so I'm looking forward to doing some camping on a hot summer night.

I was thinking about this bag:

http://www.rei.com/product/812229/lafuma-warmn-light-xl-ii-30-down-sleeping-bag-special-buy

It's down, so it's light, and it'll pack down into a tiny volume. The only thing I'm concerned about is what happens should this thing get wet? I know that my down North Face jacket was worthless for warmth once it got soaked.
 
if you're not b-packing in the snow, you don't need the most rugged bag out there. the 30f bag you list will be more than enough. if you want hot summer nights, a 45f bag will be more than enough

I would fully endorse a rectangle bag vs. a mummy bag. it's nice to spread the legs out a bit. plus, they zip together better if you have a sig. other and get the same bag.

if b-packing, there's always that balance of weight vs. comfort. i tend to lean towards comfort. but I'm slow as hell.

afa getting wet, your therma rest should protect most of you, and you can wrap the bottom of the bag (thats off he mat) in one of them black trash bags if you're worried about it. if it's raining harder and you're getting hammered with water, there's not much you can do at that point but wish you would have planned a better time to go out...:laughing
 
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So, I made it up Mission Peak today. I relaxed and took my time since I was still a bit sore from hockey practice. Thanks for the advice on going up the Ohlone side. Parking was only $2. The shade helped a lot. I kinda felt bad for the couple in front of me on the last push to the peak. The first ridge up there looks like the top. I could see how destroyed they were when they got to the top of the ridge and realized that they still had a long way to go. They quit and turned around.

I had a great time. :thumbup
 
mission peak is okay, but sunol is better. especially after a wet spring. you can follow the little yosemite trail along the river or head up the steep trails.
 

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^^^thanks. I'll check that out too.

For me Mission Peak was more about the challenge than anything else. I'm deathly out of shape, but I still made it. That place will be my baseline from now on to gauge my fitness level moving forward.
 
wannabe said:
So, I made it up Mission Peak today. I relaxed and took my time since I was still a bit sore from hockey practice. Thanks for the advice on going up the Ohlone side. Parking was only $2. The shade helped a lot. I kinda felt bad for the couple in front of me on the last push to the peak. The first ridge up there looks like the top. I could see how destroyed they were when they got to the top of the ridge and realized that they still had a long way to go. They quit and turned around.

I had a great time. :thumbup
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nice...the wife and I went up at 6:20pm, got back down at 8:45...fastest time evah for me :ride. the setting sun was beautiful, and there were a few people hanging out at the top, i.e. I think if you go up for 4th of July you'll not be alone.

we parked on the street.

btw...when I said before that the 'backside' trail to those campgrounds is only 0.2 miles more...I was corrected. it's more like a mile.
 
littlebeast said:
mission peak is okay, but sunol is better. especially after a wet spring. you can follow the little yosemite trail along the river or head up the steep trails.
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by now those green hills are brown...but the creek is always beautiful!
 
Bowling4Bikes said:
nice...the wife and I went up at 6:20pm, got back down at 8:45...fastest time evah for me :ride. the setting sun was beautiful, and there were a few people hanging out at the top, i.e. I think if you go up for 4th of July you'll not be alone.

we parked on the street.

btw...when I said before that the 'backside' trail to those campgrounds is only 0.2 miles more...I was corrected. it's more like a mile.
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I started up around 3pm and got back to my truck at around 6:30pm. I think that I hung out up top for about an hour enjoying the sights and posting pics on Facebook. I was surprised that there was a signal up there. I was kinda wishing that I woulda stayed for the sunset, but I didn't bring a flashlight or my headlamp. I didn't want to have to feel my way around the trail in the dark. I did run out of water a quarter of the way down, but it wasn't a big deal.

My calves are still sore today. :(
 
If you’re in the East Bay, I’d recommend the Rocky Ridge Trail in the Las Trampas Preserve. The trail takes you to a ridge with 360 degree views of SF, Mt. Tam, Mt. Diablo and the Livermore valley.

https://www.ebparks.org/parks/las_trampas/

Map of the trail (I recommend hiking the Rocky Ridge Trail.
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